Ninakaye Taanetinorau (Ngāti Maniapoto)
Ninakaye has managed her younger brother, high-profile artist and producer Tiki Taane, as well as his companies, trust, and record label since 2007. She mentors managers and artists via the Music Managers Forum Aotearoa and as a founding member of the Māori Music Managers Development Initiative. Ninakaye is an executive member of the Māori Music Industry Coalition, and is hugely proactive about creating positive change within the Aotearoa Music Industry and community.
Gussie Larkin
Gussie plays, writes, and sings in two of Wellington’s best known indie/alternative bands, Mermaidens and Earth Tongue. She has toured Europe, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and played festivals like Laneway, Rhythm and Vines and NestFest. Gussie has her fingers in many pies within the music industry - from directing music videos to booking tours and programming festivals such as CubaDupa, Newtown Festival and Mermaidens' own music festival, Mermgrown.
Emily Looker
Sarah Thomson
If it was released in the last fifteen years, there's a middling chance that someone within the media of Aotearoa may have allowed Sarah to: programme the music video; introduce the live-to-air; write inches about the album; playlist the single; and/or interview the bass player. Sorry about that. With a background that includes stints in music television, screenwriting, radio production, music journalism and television puppetry, Sarah is currently the Programme Director of Aotearoa's largest independent alternative radio station, 95bFM. NB: You may know Lorde's cousin, but Sarah's mates with Big Bird.
Josie Campbell - RNZ
Josie Campbell is the Publicity Manager at Aotearoa’s public broadcaster RNZ, focusing on promoting RNZ’s video and podcast content and on-air talent. She joined RNZ in October 2020 after five years as a freelance music and entertainment publicist, following many years doing marketing and communications in-house for organisations including Auckland Live, Netball New Zealand and World Vision. Outside work she makes pickles, has twitter-famous pets and goes to a lot of gigs.
Debbie Teale
Debbie has been a diversity, communications and strategy consultant for more than 20 years. Debbie has recently completed an 18-month review of Operation Respect at the New Zealand Defence Force, assessing progress in eliminating harmful and inappropriate sexual behaviour and creating a culture of dignity and respect.
